Compare towns
Alstead vs Castleton vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Alstead | Castleton | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
4,453 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alstead and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$71,768±$13k 11% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Northfield and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.